Doll with eye-closing means responding to lateral tilting and separate eye-closing means responding to rearward tilting

ABSTRACT

A toy doll adapted to simulate the motions of a child falling asleep has a head and a torso which includes upper and lower portions; the upper torso portion being formed of a flexible material and adapted to collapse relative to the lower torso portion. Fluent material is contained within the torso which is constructed to permit passage of this material between its upper and lower portions. When the fluent material is in the upper torso portion the doll is supported in an erect configuration and as the fluent material flows into the lower torso portion, the upper torso portion collapses, causing the doll to simulate the action of a child going to sleep. Simulated eye units are mounted in eye sockets formed in the doll&#39;&#39;s head and include rotatable eye members which are adapted to move between opened and closed positions. The eye members are separately controlled by means which selectively moves them towards their closed positions in response to collapse of the torso and by means which moves them towards their closed positions, independently of the collapse of the torso, when the doll is moved towards an inclined or generally horizontal position.

United States Patent [191 Thorn [4 1 May 20, 1975 1 DOLL WITHEYE-CLOSING MEANS RESPONDING TO LATERAL TILTING AND SEPARATE EYE-CLOSINGMEANS RESPONDING TO REARWARD TILTING [75] lnventor: Herbert Thorn,Jamaica, NY.

[73] Assignee: Ideal Toy Corporation, Hollis, NY.

[22] Filed: Nov. 14, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 415,606

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 247,567, May 30.1972, Pat. No.

[52] US. Cl 46/135 R [51] Int. Cl A63h 11/00 [58] Field of Search 46/135R, 169 R, 169 A, 46/169 B, 166,167, 168

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,273,836 2/1942 Dale 46/135X 2,727,334 12/1955 Ostrander 46/120 2,733,546 2/1956 Ruiz 46/135 R3,242,611 3/1966 Henry 46/135 R 3,250,037 5/1966 Katz et al.... 46/135 R3,462,875 8/1969 May 46/135 X Primary Examiner-F. Barry Shay Attorney,Agent, or FirmRichard M. Rabkin [5 7] ABSTRACT A toy doll adapted tosimulate the motions of a child falling asleep has a head and a torsowhich includes upper and lower portions; the upper torso portion beingformed of a flexible material and adapted to collapse relative to thelower torso portion. Fluent material is contained within the torso whichis constructed to permit passage of this material between its upper andlower portions. When the fluent material is in the upper torso portionthe doll is supported in an erect configuration and as the fluentmaterial flows into the lower torso portion, the upper torso portioncollapses, causing the doll to simulate the action of a child going tosleep. Simulated eye units are mounted in eye sockets formed in thedolls head and include rotatable eye members which are adapted to movebetween opened and closed positions. The eye members are separatelycontrolled by means which selectively moves them towards their closedpositions in response to collapse of the torso and by means which movesthem towards their closed positions, independently of the collapse ofthe torso, when the doll is moved towards an inclined or generallyhorizontal position.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures 1 DOLL WITH EYE-CLOSING MEANS RESPONDING TOLATERAL TILTING AND SEPARATE EYE-CLOSING MEANS RESPONDING TO REARWARDTILTING This is a division, of application Ser. No. 257,567 filed May30, 1972, now US. Pat. No. 3,789,544.

The present invention relates to toy dolls and more particularly to atoy doll which is adapted to simulate the movements of a child going tosleep.

A number of doll constructions have been previously proposed in whichthe doll is adapted to simulate the action of a child falling asleep. Ingeneral such dolls, such as for example, the dolls disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 1,193,947 to Trost, 1,555,979 to Hunter et al and 2,633,663 toFuerst are primarily concerned with eye units in which only the dollseyeballs, or eyelids are moved between open and closed positions tosimulate a child going to sleep. A common construction of such dolls isthat the eyes are opened or closed depending upon the position in whichthe doll is placed, e.g. when the doll is erect the eyes are open andwhen it is reclined or in a horizontal position, the eyes are closed.

While such dolls have had substantial popularity, they do not trulysimulate the motions or actions of a child going to sleep since they donot provide for any body movements in conjunction with the closing ofthe dolls eyes. For example, with a drowsy human child, if the child isseated or standing and falling asleep, the child will slowly tilt orfall over as its eyes gradually close. There is not an immediate closingof the eyes as is simulated by previously proposed dolls.

One known method of coordinating a simulated body movement and closingof the dolls eyes which has been previously proposed is disclosed in US.patent application Ser. No. 214,075, filed Dec. 30, 1971 by Howard J.Morrison, now Patent No. 3,757,460 As shown therein, a doll is providedwhich includes a generally rigid and hollow lower torso portion and aflexible hollow upper torso portion; the upper and lower torso portionsbeing in communication by way of a two way valve arrangement. The valveprovides a large valve opening when the doll is in an inverted positionso that fluent material contained in the torso can readily flow from thelower torso portion into the upper torso portion. With this material inthe flexible upper torso portion the dolls entire body is supported andmaintained in a relatively upright configuration. The valve includes asmall opening between the two chambers so that fluent material will beslowly metered from the upper torso portion to the lower torso portionwhen the doll is in the erect position so that the upper torso portionwill slowly collapse.

In conjunction with this body arrangement, the Morrison doll includes amovable eyelid structure in the dolls head in which the eyelids arebiased to an opened position but are controlled by the presence orabsence of sand in the upper torso portion. As a result, when the uppertorso portion is evacuated the eyelids are pulled to a closed positionso as to simulate the closing of a childs eyes as the doll collapses,thereby more realistically simulating the action ofa child fallingasleep.

While the Morrison doll arrangement is a substantial improvement overpreviously proposed dolls, it does not fully satisfy the requirements ofa doll which is adapted to realistically simulate the actions of achild. In particular, the eyelids in the Morrison structure are solelycontrolled in response to the presence or absence of sand in the uppertorso portion. Thus, the eyelids in Morrison are always biased towardsthe open position and are open when the doll is in a generally verticalposition and the upper torso portion is full of sand. Also, when thedoll is placed in the horizontal position, with the upper torso portionfull of sand, the eyelids will remain open.

Typically, when a child is playing with a doll and lays the doll in arecumbent or horizontal position, it is desired that the eyelids closein order that the doll simulate a sleeping action. Therefore, the biasedeye structure in Morrison is not entirely satisfactory since the eyesmay remain open in this position and therefore do not satisfy all therequirements of a child playing with the toy doll.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to realisticallysimulate in a toy doll the movements and actions of a child going tosleep.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a doll whichis adapted to realistically simulate the actions of a child fallingasleep, which doll is relatively simple in construction and inexpensiveto manufacture.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a collapsibledoll construction in which the eye members in the doll are separatelycontrolled for closing the eyes as the doll collapses and forindependently closing the eyes when the doll is placed in a recumbentposition.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention the toy dollincludes a torso having a head supported thereon independently of theactuating mechanism contained within the doll. The torso has upper andlower portions respectively defining upper and lower fluent materialreceiving chambers, with the upper torso portion including a flexiblesection forming a portion of the upper chamber. The latter is therebycollapsible relative to the lower torso portion.

A fluent material is contained within the torso of the doll and meansdefining a passageway between the upper and lower chambers thereinpermits passage of fluent material from one chamber to the other. Whenthe fluent material is within the upper chamber the flexible torsosection is supported and the doll is maintained in an uprightconfiguration, so as to simulate a seated child. The passage meanspermits the fluent material in the upper torso portion to be meteredrelatively slowly into the lower torso portion whereby the flexibletorso section collapses to simulate the body motion of a child tiltingover as it falls asleep.

The head of the doll has sockets formed therein with simulated eye unitspositioned in each of the sockets. These eye units each include eyemembers, e.g. eyeballs, mounted for movement between opened and closedpositions and controlled by a gravity responsive device whichselectively moves the eye members towards their closed positions inresponse to collapse of the upper torso portion. As a result, the eyesare slowly closed by the gravity responsive device as the dolls torsosimultaneously collapses. In addition, the eyeballs are separatelycontrolled by means for moving the eye members towards their closedpositions, independently of the collapse of the upper chamber, when thedoll is placed in a recumbent or generally horizontal position. Thus,the dolls eyes will close when it is placed in a horizontal or recumbentposition, irrespective of whether the upper torso is filled or empty ofthe fluent material.

The above, and other objects, features and advantages of this inventionwill be apparent in the following detailed description of anillustrative embodiment thereof which is to be read in connection withthe accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of a toy doll constructed inaccordance with the present invention, showing the doll in an uprightconfiguration with fluent material in the upper torso portion beingslowly metered into the lower torso portion;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the upper torso portion ofthe doll in its partially collapsed configuration just prior to the dolltipping over on its side;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the doll in an invertedconfiguration to illustrate the action of feeding fluent material fromthe lower torso portion to the upper torso portion;

FIG. 4 is'a side sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view, partly in section, of an eye unitadapted for use in conjunction with the doll of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a side sectional view similar to FIG. 6, showing theconfiguration of the eye unit as the dolls torso collapses; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the configuration of the eyeunit when the doll is placed in a recumbent position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail and initially to FIGS. 1 and 4thereof, it is seen that a toy doll 10 embodying the present inventionincludes a head 12 having simulated facial features including a mouth14, nose 16 and eye sockets 18. Eye units 20 are mounted in sockets 18in any convenient manner and, as more fully described hereinafter, areconstructed and controlled so as to move towards a closed position whenthe doll is placed in a recumbent or horizontal position and also toclose as the dolls torso collapses.

Head 12 includes a neck 22 which is mounted on an extension 24 of thedolls upper torso portion 26. Extension 24 includes an annular rib 28which is received within an annular recess 30 in neck 22 so that head 12is securely attached to the dolls torso.

In the preferred embodiment of doll 10, torso 26 is covered byappropriately sized dolls clothing (not shown) which may have stuffedarms and legs secured thereto in order to provide a pleasing andfinished appearance.

Torso 26 includes a lower portion 32 formed of a substantially rigidplastic material, defining a hollow chamber 34 in the interior thereoffor receiving a fluent material such as sand or salt 36. Lower torsosection 32 is formed with a plurality of annular ribs 38 about the upperportion 40 thereof and includes an annular side wall 42 which isreceived in a base member 44. The latter is rigidly secured to annularwall 42 by an adhesive or the like in order to complete the enclosedchamber 34. Base member 44 has a substantially flat bottom 46 with oneportion 48 thereof being tapered or inclined upwardly, towards one sideof the doll, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order to assist in initiatingthe tilting motion of the doll, as more fully described hereinafter.

The top of lower torso portion 32 is closed by a valve support web 50having a central opening 52 therein and a plurality of radiallyextending arms 54 which support a central collar 56. The latter slidablyreceives the cylindrical stem portion 58 of a valve member 60 having anenlarged head portion 62 which serves to close opening 52 when the dollis in a generally vertical configuration (see FIG. 5).

Stem 58 is provided with a central opening 64 extending therethrough topermit passage of the fluent material 36 through valve 60. In addition,the lower end of stem 58 is provided with a washer or pin 64 whichprevents movement of valve 60 towards the head 12 of the doll throughweb 50.

Upper torso portion 26 of doll 10 includes an upper section 66 having aclosed base or platform 67 and being formed of relatively rigid plasticmaterial. Upper torso section 66 defines an enclosed chamber 68 in whicha control mechanism 70 for eye units 20 is mounted, as more fullydescribed hereinafter. In addition, torso portion 26 includes a lowersection, or sleeve 72 formed of a flexible collapsible material, such asfor example nylon cloth fabric which is air pervious to permit air toflow into and out of the dolls torso. Sleeve 72 is secured at one endabout annular ribs 38 of lower torso portion 32 in any convenientmanner, such as for example, by the use of elastic bands and/oradhesive. The upper portion 74 of sleeve 72 is similarly secured to theupper section 66 about a plurality of annular ribs 76 formed therein. Inthis manner, sleeve 72 defines an interior upper torso chamber 78 whichis in communication with lower torso chamber 34 through opening 52 inweb 50 and the passage 64 in valve stem 58.

Initially, the fluent material, i.e. the sand or salt 36, is located inlower chamber 34 and upper torso section 26 is unsupported becausechamber 78, defined by sleeve 72, is empty. To begin play with the doll,the child inverts doll 10 into the position illustrated in FIG. 3 sothat valve member 60 moves into the position shown, wherein washer 64engages against the lower edge of collar 56 to free passage 52 for flowof fluent material therethrough into upper chamber 78. Because of therelatively large size of opening 52, the entire contents of chamber 34is rapidly supplied to chamber 78.

Doll 10 is then inverted and placed upright and seated on its base 46.In this position valve section 62 closes opening 52 and fluent material36 in chamber 78 serves to rigidify or support sleeve 72 and maintaindoll 10 in its upright configuration. In this position the base 67 ofupper torso section 66 is supported on top of the sand in chamber 78 sothat the dolls head 12 is in an erect position.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, web50 is provided with a plurality of apertures 80 located in the area ofthe web directly above the tapered or inclined portion 48 of the base.Thus, when upper torso chamber 78 is filled with fluent material 36, andthe doll is placed in an upright position, the fluent material begins toflow through passage 64 in valve stem 58 and through apertures or vents80 into lower chamber 34 at a relatively slow metered rate so thatchamber 78 begins to empty and sleeve 72 begins'to collapse. Because ofthe location of apertures 80, additional fluent material is supplied tothat portion of the lower torso member 42 which is directly aboveinclined portion 48 and more fluent material flows from the left side ofthe doll (as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2) than from the right side so that thedoll begins to tilt in a predetermined direction. As the fluent materialflows from the doll in this manner, head 12, which remains seated on thetop surface of the fluent material, begins to tilt since the top surfaceof the material becomes inclined and increases its inclination as thefluent material flows into chamber 34. Eventually a sufficient amount ofsand enters chamber 34 on the right side thereof so that, in conjunctionwith the biased collapsing motion of the doll, the center of gravity ofthe doll, because of the inclination of head 12, moves past the point ofjuncture 82 between base 46 and inclined portion 48 so that the dollsuddenly falls over on its side, thereby providing a realisticsimulation of the motions of a child going to sleep while sitting up.

To further enhance the simulation of a child falling asleep, the doll ofthe present invention is provided with the eye unit control mechanism 70which causes the eye units to slowly move towards their closedconfiguration as the torso of the doll collapses. Referring morespecifically to FIGS. 6 and 7 of the drawing, eye units 20 are formed asa two-piece casing having an inner shell 84 and an outer shell 86received therein. These shells are each formed with opposed hollowextensions 88 on opposite sides thereof which cooperate to define abearing mounting for a central eyeball member 90. The latter is formedof a generally hemispherical member having a simulated pupil and iris 92formed therein and a simulated eyelid and eyelash section 94, formed ina conventional member. In addition, eyeball 90 includes a pair ofoppositely directed trunions 96 which are received in the opposedbearing supports 88 formed in casings 84, 86, so that the eyeball ispivotally mounted within the casing and is exposed to the exterior ofthe doll through an opening 97 in shell 86. It is also contemplated thatother movable eye units can be utilized in conjunction with the presentinvention, for example, eye units wherein the eyeball is rigid and onlyan eyelid section is movable or in which the eyeball is otherwisesupported.

Referring again to FIG. 6, an elongated stem or rod 98 is formedintegrally with or operatively connected to eyeball 90 in the lowerportion thereof and extends rearwardly with respect to trunions 96. Eachof the stems 98 of the two eye units 20 utilized in the doll arerespectively connected to flexible connection members or strings 100.These strings are trained over a rigid guide stud 102 (FIGS. 1 and 2)located in upper torso portion 26 and their free ends 104 areoperatively connected to a pendulum 106 which is pivotally mounted inextension 24 of torso 26 on an axis 108. Strings 100 can be secured topendulum 106 in any convenient manner. For example, in the illustrativeembodiment of the invention the free ends of the strings are positionedwithin an opening 110 formed in the pendulum and secured there bywedge-shaped or conical pin 109.

Pendulum 106 includes a weighted element 112 secured to the free endthereof. As a result, the pnedulum is gravity responsive and when dollbegins to tilt, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 2, as a result of thedischarge of fluent material from chamber 78 into chamber 34, thependulum tends to maintain a vertical position by pivoting about itspivotal mounting 108. Thus, the point of connection of strings 100 topendulum 106 moves away from guide member 102, thereby increasing theeffective distance between this point of connection, along the strings,and the eye units. The strings thus become taut as tension is applied tothem by the weighted pendulum and therefore they pull eyeball stems 98causing pivotal movement of eyeball about is pivotal mounting, asillustrated in FIG. 7. Of course, it is to be understood that theactuation of eyeballs 90 by pendulum 106 is independent of the presenceor absence of fluent material in chamber 78 or collapse of the torso.Thus, for example, a child playing with the doll may tilt the dolltowards its left side, e.g. when cradling the doll in its arms, so as tocause pendulum 106 to close eyeballs 90, even without collapse of thetorso.

Due to the relatively slow collapse of sleeve 72, because of thedischarge of fluent material therefrom, the pivoting motion of eyeballs90 is relatively slow so that the doll realistically simulates themotions of a drowsy child slowly falling asleep and eventually fallingover when finally asleep. In one preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, the length of strings and the dimensions of pendulum 106 areselected so that eyeballs 90 are pivoted to their fully closed positionwhen the torso of the doll has tilted 15 from the vertical.

It is noted that in order to enhance the action of pendulum 106, theaxis 108 upon which it is pivotally mounted extends generallytransversely of the inclined portion 48 of base member 44. In addition,axis 108 is offset to the left of the vertical axis of the doll, as seenmost clearly in FIG. 4, so that sufficient room remains in extension 24of the torso to permit the pivotal motion of the pendulum withoutengagement of the pendulum with the inner surfaces of the extensionwhich would result in interference with the operation of the eye closingmechanism. Accordingly, it is seen that the doll is constructed so thatit is biased to tilt or collapse in a predetermined direction andpendulum 106 is mounted and located within the doll to take advantage ofthis predetermined tilt direction for operation of the eye units.

As previously mentioned, the doll of the present invention is adapted tomore realistically simulate the actions of a child and to provide agreater variation in play for a child using the doll since eye units 20are adapted to close not only when the doll collapses, or is tiltedtowards its left side as previously described, but also when the doll isplaced in a recumbent or horizontal position. This is accomplished bythe provision of weighted elements 114 secured in any convenient mannerto stems 98 of eyeballs 90. As a result of the location of stems 98, andweights 114 thereon, when the doll is placed in a recumbent position,weights 114 tend to rotate eyeballs 90 about their pivotal mountings, asseen in FIG. 8, so that the eyelid 94 is positioned to cover opening 97in outer shell 86. Thus, the eye is closed. This motion is independentof the location of the pendulum 106 at the time the doll is placed inits recumbent position and therefore is totally independent of whetheror not the chamber 78 and sleeve 72 are collapsed or filled.

It should also be clear that because of the location of stem 98 andweight 114 with respect to the pivotal mounting of eyeball 90, theeyeball is biased towards an open position by weight 114 when the dollis placed in a generally vertical position.

Accordingly, it is seen that the doll of the present invention iscapable of simulating the act of a young child falling asleep whilesitting up. The eyes 90 of the doll automatically close as the dollbegins to tilt over with the eyes becoming closed to a greater extent asthe degree of collapse of sleeve 72 increases. Ultimately the eyesbecome fully closed and as the center of gravity of the doll passes thepoint of juncture 82, the doll suddenly collapses or falls over on itsside to complete the simulated action of a child falling asleep. This isaccomplished without the need for any motors, springs, or other sourcesof power. In addition, the doll is capable of simulating a sleepingchild when it is placed in a recumbent position independently of thepresence or absence of fluent material in either of the torso chambers.Thus, the doll of the present invention provides numerous variations andpossible types of play actions permitted to the child using the dolland, the doll is reliable in operation over an extended period of timeas a result of its relatively simple and rugged construction.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is tobe understood that the invention is not limited to that preciseembodiment and that various changes and modifications may be ef fectedtherein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope orspirit of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A toy doll including a body and head, said head having simulatedfacial features including eye sockets, and a pair of simulated eye unitsmounted in said sockets, said units having eye members mounted formovement between open and closed positions, means contained entirelywithin said head and body for automatically moving said eye memberstowards said closed position merely in response to lateral tilting ofsaid dolls body and head, said tilting being in at least one lateraldirection, and separate means for moving said eye members towards saidclosed position, independently of said lateral tilting of said doll,when said doll is tilted in a direction generally transverse to thedirection of said lateral tilting rearwardly towards a generallyhorizontal recumbent position.

2. A toy doll including a body and head, said head having simulatedfacial features including eye sockets and a pair of simulated eye unitsmounted in said sockets, said units having eye members mounted formovement between open and closed positions, means for moving said eyemembers towards said closed position in response to tilting of said dollin at least one lateral direction and separate means for moving said eyemembers towards said closed position, independently of said lateraltilting of said doll, when said doll is tilted in a direction generallytransverse to the direction of said lateral tilting rearwardly towards agenerally horizontal recumbent position, said means for moving said eyemembers towards said closed position in response to lateral tilting ofsaid doll comprises gravity responsive means pivotally mounted in saiddoll for maintaining a generally vertical position as said doll istilted laterally and flexible connecting members secured at opposed endsto said eye members and said gravity responsive means.

3. The toy doll as defined in claim 2 wherein said first recited meansincludes a fixed guide member secured in said doll, said flexibleconnecting members being trained over said guide member between thepoints of connection of their ends with said eye members and saidgravity responsive means, whereby the effective distance between saidpoints of connection along said connecting members is increased as saiddoll is tilted in said at least one lateral direction to cause saidconnecting members to bias said eye members about their pivoted mountingtowards said closed position.

4. The toy doll as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for moving saideye members towards said closed position, independently of lateraltilting motion of said doll comprises a weight secured to each of saideye members to effect rotation thereof to said closed position when saiddoll is moved rewardly towards a generally horizontal recumbent positionand to bias said eye members to their open position when said doll is ina generally vertical position, said gravity responsive means overcomingthe bias of said weights when the doll is in a generally verticalposition to move said eye members to said closed positionas said doll istilted in said at least one direction.

5. The toy as defined in claim 4 wherein said eye units each comprise acasing and each said eye member comprises a simulated eyeball pivotallymounted therein, said casing having an aperture therein at said socketto expose said eyeball; said eyeball having an elongated stem extendingfrom a lower portion thereof below the pivotal mounting of the eyeballtowards the rear of said casing and said weight being mounted on saidstem, rearwardly of the pivotal mounting of said eyeball in said casing.

6. The toy doll as defined in claim 5 wherein said flexible connectingmembers are respectively secured to said stems.

7. The toy doll as defined in claim 4 wherein said gravity responsivemeans comprises a weighted pendulum mounted in said doll.

1. A toy doll including a body and head, said head having simulatedfacial features including eye sockets, and a pair of simulated eye unitsmounted in said sockets, said units having eye members mounted formovement between open and closed positions, means contained entirelywithin said head and body for automatically moving said eye memberstowards said closed position merely in response to lateral tilting ofsaid doll''s body and head, said tilting being in at least one lateraldirection, and separate means for moving said eye members towards saidclosed position, independently of said lateral tilting of said doll,when said doll is tilted in a direction generally transverse to thedirection of said lateral tilting rearwardly towards a generallyhorizontal recumbent position.
 2. A toy doll including a body and head,said head having simulated facial features including eye sockets and apair of simulated eye units mounted in said sockets, said units havingeye members mounted for movement between open and closed positions,means for moving said eye members towards said closed position inresponse to tilting of said doll in at least one lateral direction andseparate means for moving said eye members towards said closed position,independently of said lateral tilting of said doll, when said doll istilted in a direction generally transverse to the direction of saidlateral tilting rearwardly towards a generally horizontal recumbentposition, said means for moving said eye members towards said closedposition in response to lateral tilting of said doll comprises gravityresponsive means pivotally mounted in said doll for maintaining agenerally vertical position as said doll is tilted laterally andflexible connecting members secured at opposed ends to said eye membersand said gravity responsive means.
 3. The toy doll as defined in claim 2wherein said first recited means includes a fixed guide member securedin said doll, said flexible connecting members being trained over saidguide member between the points of connection of their ends with saideye members and said gravity responsive means, whereby the effectivedistance between said points of connection along said connecting membersis increased as said doll is tilted in said at least one lateraldirection to cause said connecting members to bias said eye membersabout their pivoted mounting towards said closed position.
 4. The toydoll as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for moving said eyemembers towards said closed position, independently of lateral tiltingmotion of said doll comprises a weight secured to each of said eyemembers to effect rotation thereof to said closed position when saiddoll is moved rewardly towards a generally horizontal recumbent positionand to bias said eye members to their open position when said doll is ina generally vertical position, said gravity responsive means overcomingthe bias of said weights when the doll is in a generally verticalposition to move said eye members to said closed position as said dollis tilted in said at least one direction.
 5. The toy as defined in claim4 wherein said eye units each comprise a casing and each said eye membercomprises a simulated eyeball pivotally mounted therein, said casinghaving an aperture therein at said socket to expose said eyeball; saideyeball having an elongated stem extending from a lower portion thereofbelow the pivotal mounting of the eyeball towards the rear of saidcasing and said weight being mounted on said stem, rearwardly of thepivotal mounting of said eyeball in said casing.
 6. The toy doll asdefined in claim 5 wherein said flexible connecting members arerespectively secured to said stems.
 7. The toy doll as defined in claim4 wherein said gravity responsive means comprises a weighted pendulummounted in said doll.